2022

slight return

moments of normalcy

new artistic directions

Catching up

Dreams realized

musical Adventures

2022 By the Numbers (see below for expansion):

• Premieres: 12
• Concerts: 26 
• Espresso: 730-750 (~2 per day)
• Albums: 2 
• Cassettes: 1 
• Publications: 3 
• Collaborations: 8
• Music with electronics: 2
• Interviews & Podcasts: 8 
• Grants: 2 
• Grants Applied for: 8 
• Interviews conducted: 5
• Residencies: 2
• Classes: 12
• Streams: 2.5 million
• Amazing Street Tacos: 2 
• Pieces performed: 79

I know it’s arbitrary, but I would prefer our calendars marked the New Year in the spring, at least in to the Northern Hemisphere. That said, when I awoke on January 1, 2022 I did not know what to expect. 

My album ‘A Guitar Holiday’ was reaching people via streaming in ways I had never experienced (1-million streams to date!)

I was deep into composing what would become ‘honey cadence.’

A few concerts were on the calendar, but it did not feel like Covid had released us from its terrible grasp.

Coupled with the terror of Jan. 6, I knew I needed to focus on Art and appreciate each moment of living and creating.

I began the process of getting back to performing with classes and a concert at Framingham State University before embarking on my first tour since Covid: California!

APRIL TOUR: San Francisco State University –>Museum of Northern California Art, Chico–> Center For New Music, SF –> CSU Bakersfield –> Cal Poly Pomona –> Guitar Solo International (VIDEOS). SEE California Tour Pictures

While on the tour in California, I received news that I had been awarded a grant from the Boston Mayor’s Office for Arts & Culture to produce a series of 5 contemporary music concerts being held in my neighborhood between August and November under my series Now Musique.

Each concert brought composers to Dorchester for performances of their new lullabies and works for guitar + electronics. Read and see pictures HERE.

Upon returning to Boston, honey cadence, the first album dedicated to my own music was released. Mixed and mastered by the great Steve Hunt, I was not expecting much, as who knew if my music would touch people. Needless to say, I was happily surprised to go quickly through the first printing of CDs, and then see it was picked up on a few streaming playlists and it now has 1 million streams since its release in April!
It is my most popular album, which is a bit surreal. And no, my Mom does not do streaming.

My June concerts in Oregon began with an interview and performance on Thursdays @ Three with Christa Wessel for All Classical Portland before performing two solo programs in Portland for CDZ Musica and another at the wonderful Coaster Theatre Playhouse.

Seeing friends and walking on the beach felt like returning home. 

In June I recorded God’s Time: Music of J.S. Bach on Guitar, which was released in September. Featuring 16 of my own arrangements, it was recorded over 3 days and mixed and mastered by the wonderful Paul Averginos. The reviews have been stellar and I’m extremely proud of the album.

I set out to create a Bach album that was not like every other Bach Guitar album.

Mine would explore pieces not often played on the guitar, create new repertoire (a bit of a habit of mine), and bring a fresh voice to a couple of well known works, and I think I did that.

The responses to God’s Time have been overwhelmingly positive.

With over 300K streams since its release, I can’t wait to do another! Read and watch HERE.

One of the great difficulties of Covid was not being able to collaborate with wonderful musicians. Thankfully I had three performances with harpsichordist Frederick Jodry in Boston, Cape Cod, and Newport. Pianist John Thomas improvised over my own compositions in Provincetown – a first, and I joined Convergence Ensemble in November for three duos, two solos, and two quartets in an exhilarating concert titled Strings Galore. Libby Larsen’s Cajun Set was extra special!

I returned to Southern California in November for a series of classes and concerts. Being amongst friends and musicians for more than a day or two was inspiring extremely inspiring. I worked with students of guitarist-artist Peter Yates at UCLA, collaborated with Tom Flaherty and Buzz Gravelle at Pomona College, performed in La Jolla and Carlsbad, and ate amazing tacos!

Even while touring, I kept up with my students. In August we held our first student recital since Covid with players ranging in age of 14-62, and were gifted a wonderful Fernando Sor song with soprano Jessica Cooper.

At the end of November I kicked off my new blog series Music I Am, featuring brief interviews with inspiring and smart musicians and artists about their latest projects, inspirations, and habits. Check it out HERE.

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy year ahead. May 2023 be a year of wonderful music, exciting adventures, and Dreams Realized.

Musically,

Aaron

2022 Numbers Expanded

• Premieres: 12 – Dennis Bathory-Kitsz, Antonio Celso Ribeiro, Dean Rosenthal, Thomas L. Read, Laurie Spiegel, Ian Wiese, Aaron Larget-Caplan
• Concerts: 26 – California, Oregon, Massachusetts, which is still well below pre-covid concert numbers.
• Espresso: 730-50 (~2 per day on average) – mainly cappuccino and Cortado
• Albums: 2 – honey cadence and God’s Time: Music of J.S. Bach on Guitar
• Cassettes: 1 – Etudes Volume 1 by Petridisch 
• Publications: 3 – Bacchanale w/ Edition Peters and two Meet The Composer articles for the American Composers Alliance 
• Collaborations: Frederick Jodry – harpsichord, John Thomas – piano; Convergence Ensemble: Heidi Braun-Hill – violin, Michelle LaCourse – viola, Hyun-Ji Kwon – cello
• Music with electronics: 2 – Lainie Fefferman & Tom Flaherty
• Interviews & Podcasts: All Classical Portland, Conducting Conversations Rhode Island, All things Six Strings (2x), Just One Question, Guitaromanie, Fret Not
• Grants: 3 – Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, multiple Local Cultural Council
• Grants Applied for: 8 
• Interviews conducted: 5 – Music I Am blog series
• Residencies: 2 Kirkland Community Artist Residency, Clinton, New York • Now Musique – Dorchester, Mass.
• Classes: 12 – California, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island
• Streams: 2.5 million – Amazon and Spotify
• Teaching: In person and online with students from California, China, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Texas.
• Amazing Street Tacos: 2 – San Francisco Korean Tacos and Los Angeles street tacos
• Pieces performed: 79 compositions by 34 living composers, including 7 chamber works, 12 world premieres, and 29 solos from the New Lullaby Project

* Now Musique Composers TL: John McDonald, Stanley Hoffman, Charles Turner, Aaron Larget-Caplan TR: Larget-Caplan, Ronald Pearl, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler BL: Tom Flaherty, Larget-Caplan, Stefanie Lubkowski, Ian Wiese, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz BR: Anthony Green, Francine Trester, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, Larget-Caplan, Curtis Hughes

In August of this year, I kicked off a series of five concert for Now Musique: two concerts in August followed by one each month through November. Begun in 2019, Now Musique focuses on programming new and neglected music in settings in and out of the concert hall.

Thanks to a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture in June 2022, I was able to program these five concerts and multiple children’s events in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester.

Four of the five programs showcased new music from the New Lullaby Project, works for electronics and guitar, solos from Spain, my Bach arrangements, and solos from honey cadence. One concert featured chamber music for harpsichord and guitar with the wonderful Frederick Jodry.

The “formal” concerts were held at 5:30pm on Thursdays at the Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library, were free for the public to attend, and included a Milk & Cookie reception.

I will be posting video and audio in the near future.

Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment below.

Aaron

PHOTO GALLERY:

Composers:
Lynn Job, Stanley Hoffman, John McDonald, Frank Warren, Charles Turner,, Ronald Pearl, Tom Nazziola, John Johnstone, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler, Dean Rosenthal, Lainie Fefferman, Tom Flaherty, Ian Wiese, Gregory Biss, Stefanie Lubkowski, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz, Laurie Spiegel, Anthony R. Green, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, Curtis Hughes, Francine Trester, Vineet Shende, Larget-Caplan, J.S. Bach, Luigi Boccherini, Domenico Scarlatti, Esteban Sanlucar, and Pascual Marquina

Positives:

• Neighborhood Cultural Events – Rare to have classical music events in the neighborhood.
• 25 living composers featured with many in attendance!
• Families in attendance – the earlier time and relaxed vibe invited families to attend.
• Milk & Cookies – quite the success!
• Press – Feature in the Dorchester Reporter

Become a supporter of Now Musique by giving a tax deductible donation via Fractured Atlas

Responses From Attendees:

What a pleasure it was to attend the “Now Musique” concerts at the Upham’s Corner BPL! Aaron’s varied selection of contemporary guitar pieces is an inspired concept for a library, introducing music that entrances and intrigues, while also respecting the equilibrium of the space. – Doria Hughes

This year, I had enormous pleasure attending 3 sequels of Aaron Larget-Caplan’s “Now Musique” concert series presented in the Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library. I found these short concerts entertaining, full of musical energy, perfectly covering large spectrum of guitar music. Aaron’s introduction to presented pieces included well balanced description of music as well as snippets of music creation stories coming directly from contemporary and frequently local composers.  It was a treasure chest of fun and social interaction.
– Marek Kloczewiak

It was wonderful to have live music in the branch every month from August through November. Aaron was lovely and easy to work with. The music was fresh and interesting and the composer component was something completely unexpected, a real draw for the audience. – Georgia Titonis, Branch Librarian, Uphams Corner Branch library

I had the privilege of attending Aaron’s recent concert at the Uphams Corner Library during which he performed my “Winter Lullaby”. It was a wonderful experience to hear Aaron’s exceptional and sensitive performance of this piece as well as the others on the program, speak with audience members and meet the other composers. The ambiance and reception of those in attendance were memorable.  – Brian Schober, composer

Negatives:

• Traffic – Though aimed for people in the neighborhood, those coming into Boston during rush hour were presented quite the challenge. Greatly appreciated!
• Public Transportation – close to a commuter rail and ample bus lines, but Boston is not consistent so people were hesitant to depend on it.
• Publicity – How to reach potential audiences when attention is spread over multiple digital platforms, major newspaper are cutting back, and postering has a limited scope?
• Concert reviews – none 😢

For Next Time:

• Spread out the concerts over 8-10 months
• Include more performers
• Invite local schools to be involved
• Bring in local businesses
• Add venues in various parts of Boston and beyond

Concert Posters:

Become a supporter of Now Musique by giving a tax deductible donation via Fractured Atlas

Now Musique Composers TL: John McDonald, Stanley Hoffman, Charles Turner, Aaron Larget-Caplan TR: Larget-Caplan, Ronald Pearl, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler BL: Tom Flaherty, Larget-Caplan, Stefanie Lubkowski, Ian Wiese, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz BR: Anthony Green, Francine Trester, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, Larget-Caplan, Curtis Hughes

 

After being asked what repertoire I was performing this fall, it became apparent that I needed to make a list. Some of these works are being repeated on multiple concerts, others presented by Now Musique series, many New Lullaby Project solos, and others are part of a tour in Southern California in November. I know there will be more, and I left off few encores and pieces I have’t quite committed to, but I’ll try to update. Many of the pieces are recorded or on youtube.

Did I forget anyone? If there is something you’d like to hear, leave a comment.

Repertoire Fall 2022

Roland Dyens – Tango en Skaï (1992)
Larget-Caplan – moving still (2021)
J.S. Bach – Prelude in C-major, WTC Bk 1 N. 1, BWV 846
Bach – A Small Prelude and Little Fugue BWV 926 & 961
Bach – God’s Time Is The Very Best Time, BWV 106
Tom Nazziola – Lull-a-by-the-sea (2021)
Dean Rosenthal – Sewing Piece (2021)
John Cage ­– In A Landscape* (1948)
Keigo Fujii – Legend of Hagoromo (1992)
John Johnstone – Blue Lullaby (2015)
Bach – Two small Preludes, BWV 924 & 930
Larget-Caplan – minding play (2022)
Ronald Pearl – Berceuse Inquiète (2021)
Brian Schober – Winter Lullaby (2021)
Scott Wheeler – Nachtlied (2009)
Lainie Fefferman – Carousel (2020)
Tom Flaherty – Steps & Leaps (2019)
Ian Wiese – Midnight Train (2021)
Gregory Biss – Lullaby (after Schumann) (2015)
Stefanie Lubkowski – Drifting (2018)
Dennis Bathory-Kitsz – Lullaby For Justin* (2022)
Larget-Caplan – TBA
Laurie Spiegel – Remembering (2020)
Anthony Green – Counting Backwards (2020)
Jim Dalton – World of Your Own (2012)
Michael Veloso – Little Dancer (2010)
Cutis Hughes – Lullibule (2020)
Francine Trester – Assortment!
Gershwin/Takemitsu – Summertime
Arlen/Takemitsu – Over the Rainbow
Larget-Caplan – sweet nuance (2022)
Bach – Chromatic Fantasy, BWV 903
Cage – Bacchanale (prepared guitar duo)
Vineet Shende – Carnatic Preludes, After J.S. Bach (2017, 2019)
Libby Larsen – Cajun Set (Quartet)
Thomas L. Read – Concert Champêtre (cello-guitar) (2013)
Antonio Celso Ribeiro – 3 Vintage Portraits (viola-guitar) (2018)
John Cage – Six Melodies (violin-guitar)
Ian Wiese – Seeketh Not His Own (2017)

*world premiere

The return of  Now Musique is official!

Composers John McDonald, Stanley Hoffman, Charles Turner

Composer Stanley Hoffman with lullaby inspiration Naomi

GUITARIST PRESENTS “NIGHT SONGS AND DANCES,”
THE FIRST OF FIVE FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERTS IN DORCHESTER

BOSTON (Dorchester), MA―International guitarist and Dorchester resident Aaron Larget-Caplan is presenting the first of five family-friendly concerts in the Dorchester neighborhood of Upham’s Corner on Thursday, August 11th at 5:30 PM. These free musical events are hosted by Now Musique and take place at the Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library (500 Columbia Rd in Dorchester), with the exception of the second concert. A free 30 minute preview performance will be on Monday, August 8th at 11:15am as part of the Upham’s Corner Library Storytime. Now Musique is a project curated by Larget-Caplan that shares new and unknown music in settings outside of the traditional concert hall with a multitude of communities. This family-friendly series of concerts is funded by a 2022 grant from the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture. Each performance is 50-60 minutes in length and curated so audiences of all ages can enjoy and engage with the performer(s) and a number of  living composers who have written the contemporary pieces on the programs.

“Night Songs and Dances” is the first concert of the series and features Spanish dances, six works by Lynn Job, Stanley Hoffman, John McDonald, Frank Warren, Charles Turner―all written for Larget-Caplan’s critically acclaimed New Lullaby Project, and a few pieces written by Larget-Caplan for his latest album honey cadence.

The New Lullaby Project began in 2007 in an effort by Aaron Larget-Caplan to bridge the chasm between audiences and new music, and started with him asking “Who’s afraid of a lullaby?!” These solo guitar works explore the genre of the lullaby. They tell stories of hope, fear, peace, rebirth, and even Adam & Eve’s first lullaby. They are composed using a variety of musical languages including tonal, minimalist, 12-tone, and microtones. Many incorporate a number of extended techniques. As the New Lullaby Project has grown, Larget-Caplan has found that the 65+ participating composers have succeeded in creating intimate miniatures that are not only challenging and beautiful, but fascinate and truly engage audiences by what they hear and experience.

honey cadence is Aaron Larget-Caplan’s most recent recording project with  six new pieces by the guitarist and represents his first true foray into the world of composition beyond his work as a noted arranger. The EP was released by Tiger Turn in April 2022 and has since garnered over 400K streams worldwide over all the major platforms.

Audiences of all ages are encouraged to attend any or all of the five concerts. It should be noted that those who come to the “Night Songs and Dances” performance wearing their pajamas (PG rated) will receive a New Lullaby Project sticker. And yes, teddy bears are welcome.

The second of the Now Musique series is titled “Frets & Plectrums – Music of Bach and Beyond” and takes place on Saturday, August 20th at 7:00 PM. The notable Frederick Jodry will join Aaron Larget-Caplan to perform solos and duos for harpsichord and guitar by J.S. Bach, Luigi Boccherini, Domenico Scarlatti, and Larget-Caplan. It is important to note this concert will be presented at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (14 Cushing Ave) and is the only concert of the series not held at the Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library.

Questions on attending the concerts?

Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library, Georgia Titonis, Librarian:  (617) 265-0139

More Information on the concert series and Aaron Larget-Caplan can be found at:

Now Musique:                       NowMusique.com
Aaron Larget-Caplan:      ALCGuitar.com
New Lullaby Project:        NewLullabyProject.com

ALL FIVE NOW MUSIQUE CONCERTS:

CONCERT 1: “Night Songs and Dances”
Thursday, August 11 • 5:30pm • Concert • Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Lynn Job, Stanley Hoffman, John McDonald, Frank Warren, Charles Turner, Larget-Caplan and Spanish Composers.

CONCERT 2: “Frets & Plectrums” with Frederick Jodry, harpsichord
Saturday, August 20 • 7:00 PM • Concert • St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (14 Cushing Ave)
Music by Bach, Boccherini, Scarlatti, and Larget-Caplan
Repeated 8/21 in Newport, RI & 8/28 in Provincetown, MA w/slight variation

CONCERT 3: “Lullings”
Thursday, September 15 • 5:30 PM • Concert • Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Ronald Pearl, Tom Nazziola, Curtis Hughes, Brian Schober, Scott Wheeler, Dean Rosenthal, Larget-Caplan, and Bach.

CONCERT 4: “Electric Hush”
Thursday, October 13 • 5:30 PM • Concert • Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Lainie Fefferman, Tom Flaherty, Ian Wiese, Gregory Biss, Stefanie Lubkowski, Dennis Bathory-Kitsz, Larget-Caplan.
* Includes two works for electronics and guitar!

CONCERT 5: “Catching Dreams”
Thursday, November 17 • 5:30pm • Upham’s Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library
Music by Laurie Spiegel, Anthony Green, Jim Dalton, Michael Veloso, John Johnstone, Francine Trester, Larget-Caplan.

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